Control of Jerusalem Government to Be Given to Arabs; Jews Indignant

Consternation and resentment were evident among Jerusalem’s Jews tonight after the District Commissioner had announced to the municipal authorities the decision of High Commissioner Sir Harold Alfred MacMichael to return control of the city government to the Arabs, although the Jews comprise 60 per cent of the population.

The status quo as of September, 1937, will be retained, it was announced, with the Municipal Council consisting of six Jews, four Moslems and two Christians, with two Arabs to be nominated subsequently, one of whom will be the mayor.

The displacement of Daniel Auster, who has been acting mayor since the arrest of Mayor Hussein el Khalidi last Fall, was regarded as indication that a policy of conciliation and concessions to the Arabs had been adopted. Immediately mentioned as the most likely to receive the post was Ragheb Bey Nashashibi, who was mayor for 15 years before Khalidi’s selection.